Casino is disqualified

Thursday, August 07, 2014 - Updated: 7:08 AM

The state gaming Facility Location Board unanimously voted to disqualify Florida Acquisition Corp. as an applicant for one of four gaming licenses in the state.

The board cited the incomplete application that was submitted by the development team stating,"Florida Acquisition Corp. failed to file the required materials and failed to meet the threshold."

Prior to the vote, Mayor Ann Thane who attended the meeting asked the board to reconsider the disqualification, stating that the city of Amsterdam and Montgomery County are an economically depressed area that could benefit from the casino.

"The city of Amsterdam, town of Florida and Montgomery County have been working for months on what we perceive to be the first glimmer of hope for the area," she said. "This could truly transform our municipalities."

She added that after the board has denied Florida Acquisition Corp.'s request for a $25 million deferment to the licensing fee and a 60 day extension, she along with Montgomery County Officials had met with the Gaming Commission representatives to discuss the requests.

Thane said in the meeting, they were told that for the application to be considered at all, it would need to be submitted, which it was, though incomplete.

"Our partners have tried to contact the gaming commission and those attempts were unsuccessful," she said, adding she was surprised when the agenda showed the potential disqualification.

"I can't stress enough how important this is for us," she said. "We only want a chance. Let us participate."

The board acknowledged her comments but said it would be unfair to the remaining applicants who did submit an application.

Clairvest Group Inc. CEO Jeff Parr who was also in attendance tried to speak but was told by the board, he was not allowed to address them as per the rules in the application process.